Improvement in toy tops



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcEO F. O. TUCKER AND WILLIAM W. TUCKER, OFMERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THEMSELVES AND N. C. STILES, OF SAMEPLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOY TOPS.

Speciication forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,591, dated June 12,1866.

.i ence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the saine, and which said drawings constitute partof this specication, and represent, in-

Fig. l, a side view of the top; Fig. 2, a vertical central section; Fig.3, the ballast-ring; Fig. el, a side view of the whirling-jack 5 Fig. 5,a vertical central section of the same; Fig. 6, a vertical centralsection of the top and jack complete and in ,position for whirling thetop.

Our invention relates to an improvement in the construction of what arecalled French tops, and in the mechanism or whirling-jack for whirlingthe top.

In this class of tops, as heretofore constructed, the metal isnecessarily7 very thin, making the top so light that when the whirlingcommences it jumps or dances about and does not immediately come to asteady revolution on axed point, as other tops which areheavier. Thislightness is caused fromthe fact that it is necessary to make the topfrom sheet metal, in order that it may be evenly balanced, and to spinthe metal into the required form it must necessarily be very thin. Thisjumping or dancing is a serious drawback upon the successful action ofthe top.

To overcome this difficulty is the iirst object of our invention, whichconsists in placing a ring of metal or other material near its largest ydiameter, which acts as ballast and fully accomplishes its object.

The second part of our invention relates to the whirling-j ack. Asheretofore constructed, both in the French and American tops, this isoperated by a steel spring coiled within the barrel, which is veryliable to break-a great objection in itself; but a greater exists fromthe fact that children in winding up the spring injure their fingers bythe accidental recoil of the spring. This part of our invention, whichovercomes the objectiomiconsists in attaching two cords to the cylinderwithin the barrel,

winding in opposite directions, so that drawing upon the one winds theother around the cylinder, and by means of one of which the top iscaused to whirl.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my improvement,I will proceed to describe the same as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

A is the stem; B, the lower portion of the top,denoted in black,Fig. 2;and C, the upper portion, denoted in red, said Fig. 2. These two partsare spun in the usual manner and so as to be joined together by turningthe edge of the one over the other, and both secured to the stem A.

Before closing the two parts B and C we form a ring, D, which we preferto make of wire. (See Fig. 3.) We place it within the top at or near itslargest diameter, as seen in Fig. 2. This ring, though of little weightin itself, is sufficient to fully accomplish the object and render thetop very steady. If placed nearer the center, or of smaller diameter, itwould necessarily be made heavier.

Upon the stem A we iiX a pin, d, by which the whirling-jack operates towhirl the top. This completes the construction of the top.

E is the barrel of the whirling-jack, which may be of any desired form.Through its center we place a cylinder or tube, F, of such size that thestem of the top may set freelyinto it, as seen in Fig. 6. Upon the lowerend of the said tube is formed a hook to catch onto the pin d, as seenin Fig. 6. We divide the said tube into two parts by means of a plate,a, and also form heads thereon, c. To each of the said two parts weattach a cord, L and P, winding one of the cords around the tube, asseen in Fig. 6, before inclosing the tube within the barrel, which beingdone, insert the tube into the barrel, passing the said cords L and Pthrough holes in the side of the barrel. Then place the cover R onto thebarrel, securing it thereto in any convenient manner, the said cover andbottom of the barrel forming bearings for the said tube. Then wind upthat cord, by drawing up the other, the unwinding of which will revolvethe top, place the jack upon the top, as seen in Fig. 6, so that the pind will rest in the hook, then quickly draw the cord from the barrel,causing the top to whirl, holding the jack in one hand, so that the topmay fly from it when the movement ofthe tube has ceased.

By this arrangement the objection to the spring is entirely overcome,and in skillful hands a much more rapid revolution may be obtained.

For convenience We place a light helical spring around the tube, beneathits lower head, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the tendency of which is todraw the hook up against the pin, in order to avoid its too easy removaltherefrom.

We do not broadly claim a sheet-1netal top neither do we broadly claim awhirling-jack, as such have long,` been known as French inventions; but

What we do claim as our invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

l. The arrangement of the ballast-ring D, substantially in the mannerand for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the two cords L and Witnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE, M. A. HINE.

